Strengthening coastal resilience in Senegal: a vital issue for the people of Saint-Louis

Khady Beye Sene cannot hide her satisfaction: after losing her home to coastal erosion in 2018, she had long doubted the possibility of ever having another suitable place to live.

“Whenever the issue of rehousing was raised, our friends and family would sound a note of caution, concerned that we were being fed with false promises,” she recalls. This fish processor is one of the first beneficiaries of the permanent dwellings constructed for the displaced families of Saint-Louis. “The first evening in my new home will forever be etched in my memory. I thought about all the trials that I had been through. It certainly eases the pain when you come through such a difficult period and then find yourself so indescribably happy. So, I gave thanks to the Lord and was grateful to those who came up with the SERRP project.” 

The Langue de Barbarie (Barbary Spit) is a thin, sandy peninsula that borders the Atlantic Ocean and protects the historic city of Saint-Louis. The coastal disasters that occurred along the peninsula between 2017 and 2018 resulted in numerous families losing their homes. Like Khady, those who were displaced were initially accommodated in emergency shelters that were hastily set up in the first few days after the disaster. “Conditions were extremely precarious, with as many as five families in a single tent measuring just 20 m². In addition to these highly inconvenient and crowded living conditions, our belongings and provisions had to be kept outdoors at the mercy of the elements,” Khady says. There were serious problems at the emergency camp, such as the lack of access to drinking water, the lack of toilet facilities, the spread of diseases due to the insalubrious conditions, and children dropping out of school.

Launched in 2018,  the Saint-Louis Emergency Recovery and Resilience Project (SERRP) started with the temporary relocation of almost 2,600 displaced persons to a safe, temporary relocation site that was outfitted with all the necessary amenities (clean water, sanitation, primary school and preschool, income-generating activities, etc.). The project took steps to ensure that the affected population and host communities were involved in the construction of the site. By promoting various training programs, learning sessions, orientation activities, and advisory and support initiatives, the project facilitated the social and vocational integration of over 200 young people. Young people and women were trained in various building trades (bricklaying, electricity, carpentry) and were recruited as workers for the construction of mobile housing units and basic services.

It should also be noted that the SERRP project does not focus solely on the urgent need to resettle displaced persons.  With financing of $93 million, the project aims to support and sustain the resilience of the affected communities in this particular section of Saint-Louis. In addition to building housing, the project is committed to supporting vulnerable families and the city, by promoting initiatives to strengthen people’s capacity to deal with coastal and climate hazards. The project also supports the relocation of some 15,000 inhabitants from areas at high risk of coastal erosion or marine submersion to a permanent resettlement site in Diougop, located 10 km from their original community. Under this program, 433 new dwellings were built with access to basic urban services (roads, water, sanitation, education and health infrastructure, etc.). The SERRP project also served as a catalyst for the creation of the new, resilient, and sustainable city. Furthermore, to restore the livelihoods of the displaced population, the project also provided for the establishment of an Economic Activity and Development Zone, made up of a number of manufacturing and processing plants in the livestock, fisheries, and market gardening sectors.

Khady plays a central role in Diougop, the place where the permanent homes were constructed, 10 km from the urban center of Saint-Louis. She heads the women’s association, which is very involved in welcoming new inhabitants, including Maimouna Gueye. For this fish seller in her sixties, the long-awaited day has finally arrived. Although still suffering from the after-effects of a stroke, she does not hide her relief, and she can even look forward to a more promising future. “Once you regain the peace of mind that only a home worthy of that name can give, your health can only prosper as a result,” she notes.

Saint-Louis: taking up the challenge of urban resilience

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Saint-Louis is one of the cities in Senegal most exposed to climate hazards, as a result of its distinctive geographic features and location in the Senegal River Delta. With a population of over 365,000 in 2023, the city comprises a mainland portion, an island, and the Langue de Barbarie. The Saint-Louis region is a development hub that is brimming with potential, with oil and gas mining activities expected to begin in the very near future, and thanks to other economic activities such as tourism, fisheries, and agriculture. Nevertheless, the city faces serious challenges, particularly flooding and coastal erosion. 

The SERRP project is collaborating with the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program, which was launched in 2018 to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities and ecosystems in West Africa. The program has helped mitigate the breaching risk along the southern section of the Langue de Barbarie, by using natural defense solutions, such as ganivelle fencing and casuarina trees, that protect riverside communities and the associated agricultural lands. While Saint-Louis’ short-term needs are covered and various long-term solutions have been identified, additional efforts and resources will be needed to ensure that the city can adapt to coastal hazards and promote socioeconomic growth for its inhabitants and the Senegal River Delta as a whole.